WHAT IF - SEASON 4 EPISODE 10B - I WANT IT ALL
Foreword: It´s time for another "B-Episode", this time one based on what´s been going on in the world lately. It´s fifty percent longer than a normal episode, which is why it took longer to finish writing. It also felt like an important episode, so I gave it a few extra edits to make it as good, as I felt like I could make it.
Unless you´ve been living under a rock these past weeks, then you´re sure to be well aware that Russia has invaded their neighboring country Ukraine. While the rest of the world is busy trying to distance themselves from anything Russian, we have a war hungry man in the Kremlin, who could start a nuclear war, that would potentially end all life on earth. It´s a scary thought and one we haven´t had to live with since the end of the cold war, but it´s this reality we face once again.
This story is written to remind you all, that the enemy here isn´t the average Russian, most of whom are at as much against what their president is doing, as most of the rest of the world is. They´re victims in this too and it´s them who feel the staggering effects of the sanctions and get sent off to fight in a war, they don´t want to be happening in the first place. These are people, who are no different from you or me and blaming them for something, they have zero control over, is the entirely wrong way to go about it.
it´s okay to be angry and I am too, but If you want to hate someone for what is going on, direct your anger at those responsible, which is Putin and Russia´s wealthy elite. They are the real reason why he has carte blanche to do what he wants. Please don´t direct it at the unfortunate 99.99 percent of their population, who are now having to live with the consequences of their president´s actions.
1. Int. Hallway. Day.
Peter, Derek and Danny are goofing off, like they do most of the time. Mia and Jane come over to them, shaking their heads at them.
Jane:
Remind me: Are you one year away from graduating high school or Junior High?
Mia:
It´s hard to tell the difference sometimes!
Peter gives her a hug, that she at first pretends not to want and looks away from him.
Peter:
Admit it, Babe. You don´t want me to change.
She surprises him with a kiss.
Mia:
Okay, you got me! Call me crazy, but I like that you´re still a man child.
Derek:
Have you heard, what the assembly is about?
Jane:
All I know is that Hot Sauce wants to tell us something.
Danny:
Maybe we have the rest of the day off!
Peter:
That´s what you´re always hoping for!
Derek:
Like you´re not?
Jane:
We´d better get a move on, boys. We don´t want to miss the exciting announcement, whatever it is!
Peter:
Five bucks say, that it´s something we won´t like. Any takers?
Mia:
I´m not taking that bet!
They head off to the assembly.
2. Int. Auditorium. Day.
Most of the students are gathered there, but the seniors are notable by their absence, which Danny notices, when he´s looking for JT. He finds him and sits down next to him.
JT:
Danny, my man!
The two of them fist bump.
Danny:
What´s with none of the seniors being present?
JT:
I don´t think they were told, that there´s an assembly today. Manny had no clue what I was talking about, when I asked her, if we should go together.
Danny:
That´s strange!
JT:
It´s probably nothing, like the last time where it was to tell us, that they were implementing a meat free day in the cafeteria once a month.
Danny:
All it meant was that almost everyone brought their own lunch that day! Here´s hoping that it´s a better idea this time!
JT:
I´m not holding up much in the way of hope!
There is already a microphone set up on the stage and Hatzilakos comes out to address the students, who quiet down to hear her speak. She has a sheet of paper with her.
Hatzilakos:
Good afternoon, everyone. I want to give you the good news first. After you´ve listened to my little speech, you have the rest of the day off!
There´s much joy among the students and we quickly cut to Peter, Mia, Derek and Jane, who all look pleased. Derek is a little less impressed.
Derek:
In wrestling, that´s what you call a cheap pop!
Peter:
If it means I have the afternoon off, you can call it what you want!
We cut back to the stage, where Hatzilakos gets a serious look on her face.
Hatzilakos:
However, when you´re told there´s good news, it´s usually followed by bad news. This letter was sent to us and every other high school in the city. I will read to you directly from it.
She holds up the paper, so she can read from it.
Hatzilakos:
It has been decided by the Toronto School Board, that effective from the beginning of the next school year, school uniforms will become mandatory in all high schools within the school board´s district. All schools will receive the same uniforms and they are not to be altered.
This however, isn´t popular with the students and some of them already start to become rowdy.
Hatzilakos:
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in punishments ranging from detention to expulsion.
We first cut to Danny and JT. Danny is in pure disbelief, while JT just shakes his head at it all.
JT:
If I wasn´t dropping out before, it´s settled now!
Danny:
That´s BS!
JT:
Have fun dressing like a drone next year!
We cut to Peter, Derek, Mia and an outraged Jane!
Jane:
If they think I´m gonna follow their rules, they can kiss my shiny, white ass!
Peter is the only one, who isn´t acting outraged. Probably because he knows, that he´s bound to get caught in the middle, being the principal´s son and everything.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Int. Peter´s Room. Evening.
Peter and Mia are making out on his bed, but there´s a small problem and she looks a little disappointed.
Mia:
Still nothing?
Peter:
It´s not you, I swear. It´s probably stress.
Mia gives it up for now and snuggles with him in stead.
Mia:
Over the whole uniform thing?
Peter:
You saw how they reacted. I read on Face Range that Jane is setting up a demo after school tomorrow.
Mia:
I can´t remember the last time, I saw her that angry!
Peter:
To her, it´s like they´re trying to take her personality away. I sympathize with her, it´s not that.
Mia:
But you can´t go against your mom?
Peter:
She only barely kept her job, after that video surfaced last year. How would it look, if her own son demonstrates against her rules?
Mia sees what he means and tries to think up some sort of solution.
4. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Peter and Danny are coming up towards the school. Peter is trying to stay in a good mood, for now at least.
Peter:
How did your folks react?
Danny:
The right word would be indifference! Did you talk to your mom?
Peter:
She´s counting on my support. It´s not like she can anything to change their minds. Oh, well! No one said that being the principal´s son would be easy!
Danny:
For the next week or two, it won´t be!
Peter:
At least, I found out that Jane has a shiny ass! According to herself, anyway!
The boys laugh.
Danny:
Do you think, it is?
Peter:
It could be, if she poured oil on it.
Danny:
I meant naturally.
Peter:
Can one be?
Danny:
It sounds like a mystery, that needs to be solved!
They head inside.
5. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Jane has started the protest early and is joined by Chantay, Emma and many others. They shout slogans, as they come marching down the hallways with Jane and Emma at the helm.
Demonstrators:
TAKE YOUR UNIFORMS AND SHOVE THEM!
WE DON´T WANT NONE OF THEM!
TAKE YOUR UNIFORMS AND SHOVE THEM!
WE DON´T WANT NONE OF THEM!
Their path is blocked by Hatzilakos, who has the school´s security guard with her.
Hatzilakos:
That´s far enough. You´ve made your point and it´s time you all got to your first class of the day.
Jane:
Is it gonna change anything?
Hatzilakos:
It will be taken into consideration.
Emma:
No, it won´t! I´ve been here longer than you have and if there´s one thing this place has taught me, it´s that the school board cares more about it´s own public image, than it cares about us students! The seniors stand with the protesters.
Hatzilakos:
I sincerely doubt, that you´re speaking for all of them.
Emma:
Most.
Hatzilakos:
Then let me make it clear! Either you go to your classes, or you will face detention! Is that understood?
Jane (despite being almost a head shorter than Hatzilakos), defiantly gets in her face and looks ready for a fight, in the figurative sense. Most of the other students start dispersing though, not wanting to get into trouble.
Jane:
You´ve won this round, but you can´t stop us from demonstrating after school.
Hatzilakos:
Two weeks detention, miss Vaughn. For insorbordinate behavior and using threatening body language against a member of staff.
Chantay:
She didn´t do anything!
Emma:
This is a miscarriage of justice!
Jane:
I won´t show up.
Hatzilakos:
In that case, I will change it to a suspension. How would you like to explain that to your parents?
Jane doesn´t like it, but she has to back down to the powers that be in her teenage life at the moment.
Jane:
You win this one.
Hatzilakos smiles to herself.
Hatzilakos:
Now that this matter is settled, you should get to class.
Jane and the rest of the demonstrators disperse. Hatzilakos looks pleased, that she managed to quell the rebellion, before it got started.
6. Int. Classroom. Day.
Jane sits next to Mia, still looking angry. Mia looks concerned.
Mia:
What happened?
Jane:
She basically declared war!
Mia:
How?
Jane:
By giving me two weeks detention! It was absolutely bogus!
Mia:
I don´t like the idea of wearing uniforms, any more than you do, but it´s their school and they make the rules.
Jane:
The way I see it, school is a trade off. They give us what we need, an education and in return, we play by their rules.
Mia:
I guess, there´s some truth to that.
Jane:
But if we agree to this, then what will be next? I don´t know about you, but I don´t want mine or any school to be run in a way, where it´s a few uptight censors, that decide how we all look. This isn´t only about uniforms, it´s about them wanting to take our freedom to live how we want away from us.
Mia looks Jane in the eyes and gets serious with her.
Mia:
Jane, you know that I love you like a sister, but you´re talking about starting a war, you can´t win. Let it go.
Jane:
If you want to be a coward, that´s your choice. I´m not giving up without a fight!
Mia:
It´s not being a coward to make the logical decision. The only one you´ll end up hurting is yourself, when you won´t get into the college of your choice, because of your disciplinary record. You can bet the school uniform, you´ll be wearing on that!
Jane sulks and it doesn´t look like, Mia´s words are getting through to her. Chantay comes over to join them.
Chantay:
The demo is still on, right?
Mia:
Not you too!
Chantay:
They can take anything from me, as long as they don´t mess with my phone and the way I dress!
Jane:
It´ll probably be without me.
Chantay:
You have to be there!
Mia:
She won´t be the only one, who isn´t. I won´t be there and Peter won´t be either.
Chantay:
Don´t you care?
Mia:
Of course, I do, but I´m also a realist! Are you sure that Danny is on board with your little crusade?
Chantay:
He will be, whether he likes it or not!
Mia:
You plan on achieving this how?
Chantay:
He can stand with his buddy, if he wants to. That just means, he won´t get any nookie.
Mia shakes her head at them.
Jane:
It´s not that I don´t want to, but Hot Sauce is threatening me with suspension.
Chantay:
If she suspends you, then we´ll protest that too! You´ll get suspended over my dead body!
Jane:
In that case, I say screw detention!
Jane and Chantay look pleased, while Mia looks worried.
7. Int. Hallway. Day.
Chantay is "convincing" Danny, by using her feminine charms. He´s still a bit reluctant, though.
Danny:
It´s not that I don´t want to be supportive, but Peter is my best friend. Taking part in that demo is the same as sticking my middle finger right in his face!
Chantay:
Danny, Danny ...
She starts playing up to him and it´s hard for him to resist.
Chantay:
Let me tell you, how this is going to work. Either you go to the demonstration with me, in which case I´ll make sure that you´re plenty rewarded ...
She winks at him and he gulps at the thought of it.
Chantay:
Or your only date for the next week will be your hand. Are we clear?
Danny:
There´s no way, I can get out of it?
Chantay:
Not if you want to continue to get laid on regular basis. Peter is an unfortunate victim in all of this, but this is your big chance to show, that you really care about me. You want to show, that you care about me, don´t you?
Danny just nods, still torn in what to do. Chantay gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Chantay:
I´m glad, we´re agreed on this.
He tries to look like he´s on board, when he still really isn´t.
8. Int. Science Class. Day.
Peter and Danny are doing the same experiment, as the rest of the class is doing. Danny´s head isn´t in it though, which frustrates Peter, when the experiment doesn´t go as planned.
Peter:
Are you sure, you did it right?
Danny:
More or less.
Peter:
Get your head in the game! I don´t know about you, but I´d like to get more than a C in this class for once.
Danny:
Sorry.
Peter:
It´s okay. We´re pals, right?
Peter smiles at him, making Danny smile back at him.
Peter:
Pals forgive each other for little things. We´ll just start over.
Danny:
Can they forgive bigger things? Like your girlfriend making you attend a certain demonstration with her?
Peter´s smile fades and he looks disappointed, which only makes Danny feel worse.
Danny:
It´s not that I want to, but she´s threatening dire consequences, if I don´t go with her! You understand, don´t you?
Peter:
Yeah, I guess. We should get back to work, if we´re gonna have a chance of avoiding an F.
Peter gets back to work, preferring not to discuss it further. Danny looks frustrated at having to choose between his best friend and his girlfriend like this.
9. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
It´s lunchtime and Emma is trying her best to get her friends (Sean, JT, Manny and Toby) on board, but it´s hard to.
Emma:
Come on, you guys!
Sean:
I said no!
Emma:
Come on!
Toby:
I have to give it to you, Em: You make a compelling argument!
Manny:
It´s not that we don´t sympathize with them, but this doesn´t affect us.
Sean:
I´m with you, Manny. The way I see it, it´s none of my business, so I´m staying neutral!
JT:
For once, we agree on something.
Emma:
How can you say that? They´re your class mates!
JT:
Many of whom care as little, as I do. It´ll take them a week or two to get used to and after that, it won´t seem like a big deal. So what?
Emma:
That "What" is that this is oppression of the worst kind!
Manny:
School uniforms have been around for centuries. It´s not like they´re a brand new invention.
Emma:
If you´re going to a fancy boarding school, where you knew in advance, that uniforms are mandatory, that´s one thing. You knew what you signed up for, so tough luck if you don´t like it! But this is forcing everyone else to be forced into the same box. Freedom of expression in school will be a thing of the past.
Toby:
I know you won´t want to hear it, but there are some advantages to uniforms.
Emma looks annoyed with him and stares him in the eyes.
Emma:
Like what?
Toby:
Let me run a test on you. Let´s say for arguments sake, that you were single and that you saw that guy, sitting over there ...
He points over to a 16/17 year old long haired kid, who´s dyed his hair black, is wearing a black leather jacket, that´s mostly covering a black Pantera T-Shirt, black jeans and black army boots.
Toby:
Coming over to you, looking like he wants to ask you out. How would you react?
Emma is a little taken back by this change in the conversation, but decides to play along.
Emma:
I would start thinking of ways to turn him down.
JT:
He could be a nice fella.
Emma:
He doesn´t look like one.
Sean:
He really is. I had auto shop with him last year.
Emma looks surprised.
Emma:
He is?
Sean:
He volunteers at a retirement home. They absolutely love him there, from what he told me. You could do worse!
Emma:
Why does he dress like that then?
JT:
Because he´s a Heavy Metal fan?
Manny:
Are you willing to admit, that you judged the book by it´s cover?
Emma:
It´s not my fault! If he wore normal clothes, then ...
Toby:
You wouldn´t have made a snap judgment, based solely on the way he dresses?
Emma sees that he has her, even if she doesn´t like it.
Emma:
It´s plausible.
Toby:
Can you honestly sit there and tell me, that there are no advantages to uniforms then?
Emma:
Okay, that´s one!
Manny:
How about all of the girls, who won´t get picked on, because their parents can´t afford to buy them expensive clothes? We both know that it happens all the time, Em.
Sean:
It isn´t just a girl thing, trust me! I remember a kid in grade five, who turned up in a pair of no name jeans one day and got teased for it for weeks.
JT:
I choose not to care. It´s none of my business, since I won´t be here by then anyway! Plus, I´m pretty sure, I´ve rocked the boat enough times, as it is!
Emma:
I get what you´re saying, but I still think that what we´ll be losing is way more important. What about the freedom to express yourself and to be, who you want to be? Do you remember who else was against that? The Nazis!
Toby:
It´s not the same.
Emma:
In my opinion, it´s a step towards the same thing. If you agree, then I´ll see you after school.
She lets the subject rest, for now at least.
10. Int. Hallway. Day.
The last bell rings and students soon fill the hallways. Jane meets up with Chantay and Emma and they´re looking ready to take on the system!
Emma:
I knew, you wouldn´t let us down!
Jane:
Like I´d miss out on this!
Chantay:
If you think, we´re upset, it´s nothing compared to the freshmen!
Emma:
With that many supporters, there´s no way they can silence us!
Jane:
Are we ready?
Emma:
Are you? You´re the one, who has the most to lose.
Jane:
Is she suspends me, I´ll be turned into a martyr. Hot Sauce isn´t my favorite woman in the world right now, but she´s not that dumb.
Jane looks confident.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Jane, Chantay and Emma come out to join the other protesters, who make up a sizable group, by the looks of it.
Demonstrators:
TAKE YOUR UNIFORMS AND SHOVE THEM!
WE DON´T WANT NONE OF THEM!
Jane looks pleased with her decision.
12. Int. Principal´s Office. Day.
Hatzilakos is looking out of the window at the protestors outside. Peter comes in, looking concerned about her.
Peter:
Are you okay, mom?
He comes over to join her and they both look worried.
Hatzilakos:
That I´ll get fired over this? I can´t say, that it hasn´t crossed my mind.
Peter:
It´s not you, they hate, it´s the uniforms. It has nothing to do with you as a person.
Hatzilakos:
Let me explain something to you. Being a principal is like being the general of an army. You can´t control everything that goes on, so you trust that your lieutenants, or in this case teachers, know what they´re doing. If they don´t, then it falls back on you. Above you sits the school board, who make the important decisions without having to face the music. That again falls on you.
Peter:
If it´s such a thankless job, why not quit?
She smiles at him and takes his hand. For once, there´s a real feeling of family love and unity between them.
Hatzilakos:
Because I don´t know who or what you´ll get to replace me. If it´s someone like the principal we had at my school, then Lord, have mercy on you! This school is something special, don´t you think?
Peter smiles to himself and nods.
Peter:
It´s managed to make me want to go here. Who would have thought, when I started here, that something as crazy as that could happen?
They laugh a little.
Hatzilakos:
It deserves what´s best for it and as long as I still feel like that´s me, I´m not going anywhere. Although, I may not have a choice for much longer. A demonstration that size can´t be hushed down.
Peter:
If I told Jane, then ...
Hatzilakos:
Don´t tell anyone! If word got out to the board, that I´m showing weakness in front of the students, then I´m sure to be out of here in no time!
Peter:
We can´t sit around and do nothing!
Hatzilakos:
There´s only one thing, we can do. Play by the rules and hope, it works.
Peter doesn´t like, but he trusts his mother´s better judgment on matter like this.
13. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
The demonstrators look like they´re enjoying themselves, while also doing some protesting here and there. Jane, Chantay and Emma all look happy, with how it´s going.
Jane:
When I came up with the idea of protesting, I never thought it would turn into this!
Chantay:
You have every reason to be proud!
Jane:
We all do. I couldn´t have done it without you guys.
The girls smile at each other.
Emma:
Aren´t you glad, you blew off detention for this?
Jane:
Ehm, yeah!
Chantay:
You´re not worried, that you´ll get suspended?
Jane:
She´s not gonna do it. I say: Idle threats, be damned!
Chantay sees Hatzilakos come out from the school and heading towards them.
Chantay:
Maybe they weren´t so idle after all.
Jane turns her head just in time to face Hatzilkaos, who towers over the vertically challenged Jane. Jane still looks confident though.
Hatzilakos:
I suppose, you´re proud of yourself, miss Vaughn?
Jane:
As you can see, there´s lots of us, who don´t want to wear their uniforms.
Hatzilakos:
Yes, but only one of you were warned what would happen, if she didn´t show up for detention.
Jane´s cockiness quickly goes away. Emma and Chantay look angry on her behalf.
Jane:
Can´t we talk about this?
Hatzilakos:
I´m going to call your mother, when I get home, so we can discuss this like adults tomorrow. You might as well do something useful on the first day of your suspension.
Emma:
You power hungry bitch!
Hatzilakos only has a smile of scorn for Emma´s outburst.
Hatzalkos:
You just bought yourself a week´s detention, miss Nelson. Anything you´d like to add, miss Black?
Chantay just shakes her head.
Hatzilakos:
Mess with the bull and you´ll get the horns! Have a nice day, ladies.
She leaves them and all of Jane´s fighting spirit looks like it´s gone out of her.
Jane:
My mom is gonna freak out, when she hears!
Chantay:
Perhaps it won´t be all bad. You´ll get to catch up on your soaps!
Emma:
Sorry, we got you in trouble, Jane.
Jane:
How did it get to this?
Jane looks crushed.
14. Int. Jane´s Mom´s Living Room. Day.
Jane is explaining the situation to her mom, who´s not taking the news lightly, let´s put it that way!
Jane´s Mom:
What in the world were you thinking, Jane?
Jane:
I, ehm ...
She looks very small (even smaller than usual), as she tries to avoid her mom´s gaze.
Jane´s Mom:
This is going to be on your permanent record. You´re aware of that, aren´t you?
Jane:
I didn´t consider it.
Jane´s Mom:
This could be your chance to go to Yale or Harvard, that went out the window and for what? So you could attend a fun little protest and hang out with your friends?
Jane´s fighting spirit slowly comes back to her and she looks her mom in the eyes.
Jane:
It wasn´t just me and my friends. There were lots of students there, most of whom I´d never seen before. What we did meant something and in spite of getting punished, I´m proud of what we accomplished. She can give us detention and suspend us, but she can´t take that away from us.
Jane´s Mom:
You´re up against a superior power, Jane! All you´re doing is making it worse on yourself!
Jane:
Maybe it´s not the logical thing to do, but I´m not giving up this easily!
Jane´s Mom:
How? What´s you magical solution, because I´d love to hear it!
Jane tries to come up with something, then gets an idea.
15. Int. The Dot. Evening.
Peter and Paige are working together, but she´s on her way out. There´s only a few customers left in there anyway.
Paige:
You´re sure that you remember the new alarm combination?
Peter:
I´m the one, who convinced them to make it mine and Mia´s anniversary date. That way I can´t forget.
Paige smiles at him.
Paige:
That´s cute. You have yourself a lump of gold in her. Don´t let go of it.
Peter:
I don´t intend to.
Danny comes in and they notice him.
Paige:
Don´t be too hard on him. Real friends aren´t easy to come by either. Especially ones, who stand by you, while you lose your mind over how slow the justice system works! Of which I´ll be going to visit one.
Peter:
Try to enjoy yourself.
Paige:
I always do.
She passes by Danny on the way out.
Paige:
Hey, Danny. Say hi to Liberty from me.
Danny:
Did you hear that her and Jimmy are engaged?
Paige:
Way to go Liberty!
Paige leaves the cafe and Danny comes up to the counter. Peter doesn´t look like he´s too mad at him.
Peter:
I thought you would have been front and center next to Chantay this afternoon.
Danny:
She didn´t even notice, that I I snuck off to play a basketball against some dude for half an hour. All she wanted to talk about afterwards, was what happened with Jane.
Peter smiles to himself.
Peter:
Did you win?
Danny:
Hell yeah, I did! Look, I really don´t want this to come between us. We´ve been bros since you started at Degrassi!
Peter:
I don´t either. At the same time, I´m afraid that if it escalates, then it´s bound to cause rifts.
Danny:
I´m telling Chantay, that I´m staying neutral from now on. If she doesn´t like it, that´s her problem. I´m not letting her force me into going against you or your mom, who I might add, has always been nice to me, when I´ve been over at your house.
Peter:
She could end up getting fired.
Danny:
You really think so?
Peter:
It´s not like she wasn´t in the danger zone. I know that neither Jane or Chantay would want to hurt someone intentionally, but they´re playing havoc with my head these days. It won´t be long, until Mia gets dragged into it and then what? Will she have to choose between me and her best friend?
Danny shakes his head at the whole situation.
16. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Peter and Mia arrive for the day and meet up with Danny and Chantay, who´s busy with her phone and looking excited.
Peter:
Are H&M having a sale, Chantay?
Chantay:
Better!
Mia:
Are N´Sync back together?
Chantay:
Even better!
Danny:
Can I tell them?
Mia:
One more guess. You won the lottery?
Chantay:
Figuratively speaking, we all did.
Mia and Peter look very interested now.
17. Int. Principal´s Office. Day.
Jane and her mom are meeting with Hatzilakos.
Hatzilakos:
Miss Vaughn, you wouldn´t happen to know who´s behind the viral social media campaign to have the uniforms banned? The one that the papers are writing about this morning?
Jane:
Not a clue! Sorry.
Jane´s smile to her tells another story though.
Hatzilakos:
Because if you were, I would have to call it a brilliant move on your part.
Jane´s Mom:
I assure you that Jane is very sorry for what she did and wants nothing more, than to be allowed back in school as soon as possible.
Hatzilakos:
Is that true?
Jane:
If you´ll let me come back, I´ll be an angel, I promise.
Hatzilakos:
With most of the high school students in the city protesting this afternoon, it hardly seems fair to punish you for doing so yesterday. Since you appear to be repentant, your suspension is hereby lifted.
Jane and her mom look relieved.
Jane´s Mom:
Thank you!
Hatzilakos:
You can thank your daughter. Isn´t that correct, miss Vaughn?
Jane just smiles to herself.
18. Int. Hallway. Day.
Mia, Darcy and Chantay are talking by one of their lockers, when a still smiling Jane comes over to them.
Mia:
I wasn´t expecting to see you here today!
Jane:
Guess who´s free as a bird?
Chantay:
She let you off?
Jane:
I still have to do those two weeks of detention. But she was nice enough to let me wait until tomorrow to start, so I could demonstrate today.
Darcy:
I need someone to fill me in, because I am completely out of the loop! What happened again?
Mia:
That´s what you get for missing school!
Chantay:
You never know what you might miss out on!
Jane:
Allow me to tell you a story, dear Darcy. One of power struggles, betrayals and me getting myself detention!
Jane begins telling the story to Darcy.
19. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
The demonstration is in full swing and there´s more students there, than there were the day before. Jane is with her friends and is enjoying herself, when Johnny comes through the crowd. They smile at each other and she gives him a big hug.
Jane:
Shouldn´t you be at your own school?
Johnny:
It´s the same as here. Only you aren´t there, are you?
Jane:
You smooth talker!
Johnny:
Does this mean you´ll start getting political all the time?
She sees a chance to mess with him, that she can´t not take advantage of.
Jane:
Actually, yes!
Johnny look a little annoyed.
Jane:
I plan on running for school president next year, get elected to parliament by the time I´m twenty and if all goes to plan, I´ll be president by the time I´m forty. What do you think?
Johnny:
I guess ...
Jane:
You guess what?
Johnny:
I don´t like politicians, but I really like you, so ...
She smiles warmly at him and gives him a kiss.
Jane:
You are so sweet! If I did become president one day, would you be my first man?
Johnny:
You´re the only one, I´d do it for!
They´re interrupted by Emma and Chantay, who come over to them.
Chantay:
The uniforms are being dropped!
Emma:
They´ve just announced it! Well played, Jane!
Chantay:
Well played!
Jane looks fittingly proud of herself.
CLOSING CREDITS
Just so that it´s spelled out:
The School Board represented Russian President Vladimir Putin. The implementing of the uniforms represented the threat of invasion.
Hatzilakos represented the other Russian politicians as well as their army leaders, who are forced to follow orders, whether they like them or not.
Peter, Mia, Darcy and Derek represented the many countries in Europe and Asia, who have close ties to one or both countries and only want peace between them.
Danny represented another of the former "Eastern Bloc" countries, who are stuck between their close historical ties to both Russia (going to Degrassi and his ties to the principal through his friendship with Peter) and the Ukraine (his friendship with Jane) coupled with their "new" ties to Western Europe (his relationship with Chantay).
Jane represented Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
Emma represented the North American countries, in particular US president Joe Biden.
Chantay represented the Western European countries, in particular French president Emmanuel Macron.
Sean, Manny and JT represent the non-UN countries, that are located far away from the conflict and would rather stay neutral, but are being "Peer Pressured" by the bigger powers into taking a stand against Russia, even if they to some extend agree with the Russians (Toby´s arguments for uniforms, as in the advantages of political uniformity under one ruler).
There you go! Modern politics explained in a Degrasi story! I´d love to hear, what you thought of it.